Version 12 has specific settings for
the mouse button operations. Exclusively, in Version 12 the double right
mouse click activates Softplan’s floating toolbar. The center mouse button
will no longer operate as the double right mouse click to activate the
floating toolbar since it is now used for a different purpose.

Cursor Improvement

Version 12 has improved cursor
performance. In previous versions of SoftPlan, the drawing action would
end if the cursor went off the screen. Improvements to the cursor behavior
have changed the performance so that the drawing action is not
ended.

Select Draw > Wall > 2x4
Brick

Draw 3 walls in the shape shown in
the sample image 1.

After the 3rd wall is drawn, move off
the drawing surface.

Move back onto the drawing surface,
and the wall will continue as if the cursor had not moved off the drawing
surface.

SoftPlan Version 12 no longer
considers a simply zoom or pan as a change and therefore will not prompt a
message to save your drawing prior to exiting. Previously, opening a
drawing and performing a zoom, followed by an attempt to leave the
drawing, would prompt whether or not to save changes. This feature
improves the process of switching between drawings (to check say a
dimension) so that it is as quick as possible.

Note: If you save the drawing, the
zoom scale with be saved. If you do not save, the next time the drawing is
opened, the zoom will revert to the previous scale.

Drawing Options

Generated drawings, such as joist
plans, wall framing, bird’s eye roof plan, etc, will now use the Drawing
Options from the original drawing. These options include Character Setup,
Color assignments, Material Dimensions, Walls and Beams, etc. In previous
versions of SoftPlan, these generated drawings would have the Drawing
Options as they were defined at the System level instead of the drawing
level.

Multi Drawing Position can be Cancelled

SoftPlan Version 12 has added the
ability to cancel the positioning of a drawing that is to be placed in a
Multi Drawing. A Multi Drawing allows several drawings to be assembled
together to allow them to be printed on the same piece of paper. The
Position feature allows each drawing participating in the multi to be
positioned relative to the base drawing. In previous versions, once the
Position command was selected, the drawing must be positioned with no
option of canceling the positioning. Version 12 now allows for the
positioning to be cancelled.

Open an elevation of a sample
set of drawings to create a Multi Drawing.

Select File > Multi Drawing
and then check the Enable checkbox.

Select another elevation
drawing to be added to the Multi Drawing list and hit the Add
button.

To position the newly added
drawing relative to the base drawing, select the Position
button.

The selected drawing will then
move with your cursor. Depending on you currently set mouse
actions, the positioning can either be completed or cancelled
altogether.

To cancel the
Positioning of a drawing using Left / Right mouse actions, select the Left
mouse button. To cancel the Positioning of a drawing using Left / Left mouse
actions, select the Right mouse button.

Saving an Overlayed Drawing

SoftPlan Version 12
has added the ability to now save a drawing with an Overlay present. When a
drawing with an overlay is saved, the overlay will display when the drawing
re-opens.

With a drawing open select File >
Overlay.

With the overlaid drawing present
select File > Save As (or Save) to save the drawing.

Exit Softplan and re-open the
program. Select File > Open to open the drawing you had previously
saved.

The previoulsy saved drawing file will open,
with the Overlay still in place. You will not have to re-select the Overlay
command to place the drawing back into position.

Windows® Type Mouse Buttons

An additional method of mouse input
has been introduced in SoftPlan version 12. The mouse buttons can now be
configured to accept a Windows type of input by using the left mouse
button for both From and To operations. With the mouse setup for single
button input, the right mouse button then acts as a Cancel command.

The traditional two button mouse is
still available for those users who prefer the same method of mouse input
as in previous versions where the left mouse button is used for From
operations and the right mouse button is used for To
operations.

Select File - System Options - Setup
Options - Define Keys.

Uncheck the option Use SoftPlan 11
mouse buttons to use the left mouse key to both From and To
operations.

Check the option Use SoftPlan 11
mouse buttons for the traditional method of using the left mouse key for
From operations and the right mouse key for To operations.

Expanded Drawing List

SoftPlan Version 12 has an increased
list capacity in the Drop Down Drawing List. This allows you to, at the
click of a button, view a larger number of available files to choose from,
without having to search or scroll through the list. Previous version of
Softplan did not have this expanded drawing list available.

With a drawing open, click on the
Down Arrow on the right of the drawing list located in the upper right
corner.

The Drawing List will open, and
expand to accommodate the number of drawings available in the current
folder. The list is designed to expand to the full height of the screen,
before you need to scroll through to find any drawings.

Pan Feature Added

For quick and easy movement about the
screen, SoftPlan has added the ability to simply depress and hold the
middle mouse button or wheel. At this point the cursor will be replaced
with a “hand” icon, indicating the point on the drawing that has been
selected. As the mouse is moved, the screen will be locked onto the
cursor, and the drawing will pan relative to this point.

Position the cursor on over the point
on the drawing to use as the “grab point”.

Depress the middle mouse button and
hold down.

Move the cursor and the drawing will
move with it.

Release the middle mouse
button.

Multi Drawings are Redrawn After a Block Move

SoftPlan Version 12 has modified the
Redrawing ability when using Multi-Drawings. In previous versions of
Softplan it was necessary for you to manually select the Redraw function
once items had been moved within a Multi Drawing. The functionality in
Version 12 is such that the redraw is automatic, thus preventing you from
performing the extra step.

In order to demonstrate the improved
functionality in Version 12, simply open one of our sample drawings, and
use the provided System Drawings in the program.

With a plan
drawing open select File > Multi Drawing.

In the Multi
Drawing menu place a checkmark in the Enable box (the current plan will move to
the right hand window).

Next select the
System Drawings button in the bottom left corner. The available drawing list
will then change to preview the default System Drawings.